Leno heald



Jan. 16, 1962 Filed Oct. 26, 1959 O. WAG N E R LENO HEALD Fig. 3'

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 16, 1962 o. WAGNER 3,016,924

LENO HEALD Filed Oct. 26, 1959 2 Sheets-S1166?l 2 3,015,924 Patented Jan. 16, 11%62 3,016,924 LEN() HEALD Otto Wagner, Horgen, Zurich, Switzerland, assigner to Grob da Se., AdG., Horgen, Switzerland Filed Oct. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 843,736 Claims priority, application Switzeriand Oct. 31, 1955 4 Claims. (Cl. 139-51) This invention relates to healds for leno weaving. Leno weave healds are made of flat steel strips and are composed of two lifting healds and a doup needle. Each of the two lifting healds is formed of two individual flat steel strips, which are connected to one another by electric spot welding or, in a less common form, by interlacing. One spot weld is at the extension above the upper terminal eye, and the other approximately at the middle of the heald below the offset thereof and supports the doup needle. Each lifting heald is threaded, or mounted, with its upper and Ilower terminal eye on a heald rod of the leno weaving frame. The leno frame includes the pairs of lifting healds together with their heald rods and the heald rods on which the doup needles are threaded.

The hair pin shaped doup needles extend partly with their legs between the two steel strips forming each lifting heald and rest on the middle spot weld thereof. Three different kinds of doup needles are common. The eyelet doup needles have an eyelet at their upper end for receiving the leno thread or leno end. In the slotted doup needles the eyelet has a slot-shaped extension in one leg of the doup needle. In the double slot doup needles two eyelets for the leno threads are provided in the head of the doup needle, one above the other, and each of said eyelets is extended in slot-shape in one leg of the doup needle.

Depending yokes, generally of stirrup-shape, are connected to the heald rods of the doup needles and yieldingly biased downwardly by suitable means, such as springs.

In weaving, the leno end and the standard ends extend through the space between the two lifting healds, the leno end also extending through the eyelet at the top of the doup needle. In the double slot doup needle there is one leno end extending through each of the two eyelets. By raising one or the other of the lifting healds the doup needle-with the leno end, or ends-is raised to an elevated position to provide a passage for the shuttle between the ends according to the weaving pattern.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide in leno weave healds of the type indicated above improvements which offer substantial advantages by facilitating the operation of the -leno healds, enabling increased speed of the loom, and equalizing the tension of the warp threads, whereby the output of the loom may be increased and the occurrence of thread breaks or other damages reduced.

More specifically, the object of the invention is to provide improved leno healds in which at least a portion of each lifting heald is offset in such a way that it extends on the outside of a plane through the upper and lower eyes of the lifting heald.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows onel of the leno healds at present generally used, namely a leno heald with a slotted doup needle. The leno heald is shown in the middle shed position, i.e. the two lifting healds are on the same level,

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of the upper part of a lifting heald according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows the slotted doup needle according to FIG. 1 in the open shed position. One lifting heald is in the high shed position, the other one in the low shed position,

FIG. 4 likewise shows the slotted doup needle in the open shed position. The lifting healds are however, offset twice in contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, which permits the arranging of the legs of the doup needle with its heald rods between the two lifting helds,

FIG. 5 shows a leno heald with its heald rods arranged outside the lifting healds and with lifting healds formed according to the invention,

FIG. 6 shows the lower portion of a lifting heald essentially according to FIG. 5, but of slightly modified shape.

FIG. 7 shows a slotted leno heald with lifting healds formed according to the invention in the open shed position and with the heald rods of the doup needle arranged between the two lifting healds, and

FIG. 8 illustrates the upper part of a lifting heald having a spot weld provided below the upper terminal eye.

The leno heald shown in FIG. 1 corresponds in its shape and design to the flat steel strip leno healds at present in general use. Each of the two lifting healds 1 and 2 is made of two single flat steel strips 26 and 27 (FIG. 2) which are connected to one another by spot welding at the extension 5 above the upper terminal eye 3 as well as approximately in the middle of the heald at the abutment 6 for support of the doup needle. The upper terminal eye 3 and the lower terminaleye 4 of each lifting heald are threaded onto the heald rods 7, 8 and 9, 10, respectively, of the associated lifting frame 11 or 12, respectively. Above the abutment 6 for the doup needle the lifting healds are offset inwardly and downwardly at 13 i.e. towards the middle axis of the leno heald. The doup needle p14, in the drawing illustrated as a slotted doup needle, has in its head an eyelet C15 which is extended in slot shape into one leg 16. In the lower end portion of the legs 18 and 19 of the doup needle slots 2t) and 21 are provided, which serve for mounting the doup needles on the heald rods 22 and 23 of the doup needle. Between the two lifting healds the standard end 24 passes, and parallel to it runs the leno end 25, which is however additionally threaded through the eyelet 15 of the doup needle 14.

In the position shown in FIG. l the leno heald is in the middle shed, i.e. both lifting healds 1 and 2 are on the same level.

A side elevation of the upper part of a lifting heald 1 or 2 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The two fiat steel strips 26 and 27 are', as stated hereinabove, connected to one another by a spot weld 28 `above the upper terminal eye 3 at the extension 5. A spot weld 29 connects the flat steel strips approximately at the middle ofthe lifting heald and serves as a support abutment for the doup needle 14. The flat steel strips 25 and 27' have at this point each a dimple Sil and B1, respectively, pointing towards one another, in order to provide the necessary interval for receiving the doup needle.

The leno heald illustrated in FIG. 3 is shown in the open shed position. The lifting heald 1 is in the low shed position. The lifting heald 2 is in the high shed position and has accordingly pulled doup needle 14 with it into the high leno shed.

A major portion of the slot 15 of the doup needle 14 is unobstructed, and by the aid of a leno ground frame not shown in the drawing the leno end 25 can be raised or lowered in the slot of the doup needle. The standard end 24 is held in the lower shed position by a stationary heald of a standard end frame (not shown).

From the illustration in FIG. 3 it is evident that the slotted leg 16 of the doup needle `14 extends between the two flat steel strips 26 and 27 forming the lifting heald 1 over a comparatively long distance, and thereby hampers the descent of the standard end into the low shed position 33 indicated in dotted lines.

In FIG. 4 likewise -a leno heald with a slotted doup needle is shown. In contrast to the leno healds illustrated in FIGS. l and 3 the legs 16 and 17 of the doup needle 14 are here arranged between the two lifting healds 1 and 2. For this purpose the lifting healds are offset at two points 34. The two heald rods 22 and 23 of the doup needle likewise extend between the two lifting healds. According to the known arrangements it is also possible to arrange the two end portions 18 and 19 of the legs of the doup needle 14 one behind the other, and to thread them on one and the same heald rod 22. Then the doup needle has lonly one heald rod. It is moreover also possible to make the end portions 18 and 19 of the doup needle 14 integral with one another and to stamp out one hole only, in which case likewise one heald rod 22 only is required for the doup needle.

Also in the known arrangement of the leno heald as illustrated in FIG. 4 with the lifting healds offset at the points 34, the slotted leg 16 of the doup needle extends over a comparatively long distance 32 between the two fiat steel strips 26 and 27 forming the lifting heald 1. This again hampers the descent of the standard end 24 into the low shed position 33 indicated in dotted lines.

The fact that the standard end cannot be brought unhampered into the low shed position has caused difficulties in weaving. The shed formation is not faultless since the standard ends do not go completely into the low shed position, or do so only with a time lag. This causes the danger that the shuttle flying through the weaving shed severs or at least roughens the standard ends. In many cases it is accordingly impossible to make use of the entire shed forming stroke of the leno healds; for in principle the standard end should be alble to descend all way down to the offset portions of the lifting healds. For these reasons the weaving mills have adopted longer lifting healds which involve adjustments in the loom and increased expenses.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. of the leno heald according to the invention this difficulty has been overcome. For the reason `of allowing a good comparison, again a leno heald with slotted doup needle is shown in the open shed position. With this leno heald, as in FIGS. 1 and 2, the legs 16 and 17 of the doup needle 14 and accordingly also the heald rods 22 and 23 of the doupy needle are arranged outside the lifting healds 35 and 36.

`In order to form a sufficient interstice for the unhampered passage of the standard end 24 between the lifting healds 35 and 36, respectively, and the legs 16 and 17, respectively of the doup needle, the two flat steel strips 37 and 38 forming =the lifting healds are offset outwardly at 40 below the upper terminal eye 39, in order that the adjacent section may run parallel to the axis of the lifting heald all way to the middle offset 41. The offset 41 above the spot-welded abutment 6 has been enlarged as compared with the embodiment according to FIG. 4 in order that the flat steel strips of the lifting heald 35 may be brought nearer to those of ythe opposite lifting heald 36 to the extent required.

Instead of extending in a straight line from the middle offset 41 to the lower terminal eye 43 of the lifting heald, as in the known lifting healds illustrated in the FIGS. 1 and 3, the lifting healds 35 and 36 extends over a comparatively long distance parallel to the lifting heald axes, to be offset again lnear their lower terminal eyes 43 at 42, in order that they may be brought back to the axis of the lifting healds.

Since the lifting healds have the additional offset 40 below the upper terminal eyes 39, the portion of the heald between the two offsets 40 and 41 is disposed outside the axis passing through the middle of the terminal eyes 39 and 43. Depend-ing on the width of the doup needle legs, i.e.

depending `on whether it is the question of doupneedles having an eyelet, slot or double slot and legs of equal or different width, the two lifting healds of a leno heald may be offset at 40 and 41 as well as 42 an equal or a different amount. Moreover the magnitude of the offsets 40 and 41 as well as 42 is influenced by the pitch of the frames, i.e. by the distance from the middle of the lifting frame 11 tothe middle of the lifting frame 12. By providing the additional offset 40, sufficient space is provided between the lifting heald 35 and the leg 16 of the doup needle, and in the crossed shed position (not shown) between the lifting heald 36 and the leg 17 of the doup needle to enable the standard end 24 to be lowered unhampered and without delay into the low shed position. The advantage of the design of the lifting healds according to the invention is striking and overcomes the abovementioned disadvantage which has existed for decades.

The offsets of the lifting healds 35 and 36 at 42 adjacent their lower terminal eye 43 have the effect, that the latter lies accurately in the axis of the lifting heald. In contrast thereto, in the leno healds used hitherto having the heald rods `of the doup needle arranged outside the lifting healds, as according to FIGS. 1 and 3, the lower terminal eyes 4 of the lifting healds 1 and. 2 stand at an angle to the axis of the lifting heald owing to the offset 13 being arranged approximately in the middlle of the heald. Consequently the lifting healds 1 and 2 or their terminal eyes 4, respectively, jam on the lower heald rods 8 and 10 of the lifting frarnes 11 and 12, so that the lifting healds and accordingly the leno heald as a whole can be shifted toand-fro on the heald rods 8 and 10 with a certain effort only. This restricted slidability of the leno healds has a detrimental effect in practical operation. The required free play of the heald is restricted and instead of the leno heald being able to adapt itself to the positions of the standard end and of the lenoI end, these two threads must adjust to the actual position of the leno heald and are consequently subject to a corresponding friction and Wear. Also when threading in broken threads when it is unavoidable for the operator to reach with his hand into the leno harness, the obstructed slidability of these leno healds has a detrimental effect in that the space required for the weavers hand can be provided only with difculty. After rnending the broken thread, the healds do not automatically slide back into the 'correct position by the pressure of the warp threads, but have to be pushed back by hand.

It is also possible to bring the lower terminal eyes 43 of the lifting healds 35 and 36 back into the axis of the lifting heald by means of a bend 44 in said healds, as shown in the partial view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 shows likewise a leno heald with slotted doup needle 14, the legs 16 and 17 of which however are disposed between the lifting healds 45 and 46. Also with this leno heald the lifting healds are additionally offset outwardly according to the invention below the upper terminal eye at 4?. It will be seen clearly, how owing to this offset 4d of the lifting healds below the upper terminal eye the upper portion of the lifting healds 45 and 46 is placed outside the longitudinal axis through the eyes 39, 43, whereby between the doup needle 14 raised into the open shed and the lifting heald 45 a sufficient free space is formed for the standard end to be brought into the low shed position without effort.

In order that for the heald rods 22 and 23 of the doup needle the additional space may be provided between the lifting healds 45 and 46 which is required in certain circumstances, the lower portion between the abutment 6 for the doup needle and the lower terminal eye 43 (FIG. 7) may likewise be brought outside the axis passing through the terminal eyes 39 and 43. For this purpose the offset at 50 is enlarged and above the lower terminal eye 43 an additional offset is provided, which brings the flat steel strips 37 and 38 (FIG. 8) back into alignment with the axis.

The two flat steel strips forming a lifting heald are connected to one another by electrical spot-welding at the extensions 5 above the upper terminal eye 3 and approximately at the middle of the heald at the abutment 6 for the doup needle, as illustrated in FIGS. l, 2 and 3 and in accordance with common practice. This provision of the first spot weld above the upper terminal eye involves the danger that the upper terminal eye 3 may be weakened by the electrical spot welding. FIG. 2 also shows how the two dat steel strips 26 and 27 of the lifting heald converge towards the upper terminal eye 3, whereby the interval available for the doup needle 14 is narrowed.

As shown in FIG. 7, the spot weld 47 is arranged below the upper terminal eye 39, the flat steel strips 37.

and 3S (FIG. 8) being additionally raised at this point by embossings 48 and 49 directed towards one another. Thereby one attains that between the two flat steel strips 37 and 38 forming the lifting healds 45, 46, and 35, 36,

respectively a uniform space is formed. This space is uniform between the upper spot weld 48 and the abutment 6 carrying the doup needle. As compared with the illustration of FIG. 2 it is clear that the two hat steel strips of the lifting heald do no longer converge, but are kept at the distance required over a predetermined length of the heald.

While I have described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings what may be considered typical and particularly useful embodiments of my said invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular details and dimensions described and illustrated; for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a leno weave heald, a pair of lifting healds each provided with an eye at each end for threading on a pair of heald rods disposed one above the other in a vertical plane, a doup needle, means onV each of said lifting healds for supporting said doup needle whereby said doup needle is raised by upwardly movement of either of said lifting healds, and each of said lifting healds having at least one of the two portions thereof extending upwardly and downwardly from said doup needle supporting means to said eyes offset towards the side of said vertical plane facing away from the other lifting heald of the pair, said offset portions being substantially parallel with said `vertical plane.

2. In a leno weave heald, a pair of lifting healds each provided with an eye at each end for threading on a pair of heald rods disposed one above the other in a vertical plane, a. doup needle, means on each of said lifting healds for supporting said doup needle whereby said doup needle is raised by upwardly movement of either of said lifting healds, a first offset portion of each of Said lifting healds between said support means for the doup needle and the upper eye, and a second offset portion of each of said lifting healds between said support means for the doup needle and the lower eye, said first and second offset portions being substantially parallel with said vertical plane and disposed at the side of said vertical plane facing away from the other lifting heald of said pair of lifting healds.

3. In a leno weave heald, a pair of lifting healds provided with eyes at both ends for receiving a pair of heald rods disposed one above the other in a vertical plane, a single doup needle, and means on each of said lifting healds for supporting said doup needle so that said doup needle is raised by upwardly movement of either of said lifting healds, each of said lifting healds having the portion thereof between said doup needle supporting means and the upper eye parallel with said vertical plane and offset towards the side of said vertical plane facing away from the other lifting heald of the pair.

4. In a leno weave hcald, a pair of lifting healds provided with eyes at both ends for receiving a pair of heald rods disposed one above the other in a vertical plane, a single doup needle, and means on each of said lifting healds for supporting said doup needle so that said doup needle is raised by upwardly movement of either of said lifting healds, each of said lifting healds having the portion thereof between said doup needle supporting means and the lower eye parallel with said vertical plane and oiset towards the side of said Vertical plane facing away from the other lifting heald of the pair.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,252,433 Koch Aug. l2, 1941 2,788,021 F. H. Kaufmann Apr. 9, 1957 2,9l3,013 I. I. Kaufmann Nov. 17, 1959 Y FOREIGN PATENTS 644,291 Germany Apr. 23, 1937 OTHER REFERENCES Fundamentals of Leno Weaving with Flat Steel Heddle Equipment. Published by Steel Heddle Mfg. Co. (Philadelphia, Pa.) Mailroom date Sept. 13, 1936` copy in Class l39-52 of Division 2l. 

